McDowell Board of Directors Approves $88,000 in Education Research Funding

June 25, 2018

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

SASKATOON – The McDowell Foundation Board of Directors has approved more than $88,000 in education research funding. The money will support seven new teacher-led projects for the upcoming school year.

Funding will support teachers in Saskatoon, Regina, La Ronge and teachers in the North East and Sun West School Divisions. Research projects will explore student mental health and reconciliation and the educational experiences of refugee children. Other projects will look at the sense of belonging amongst students and staff in an Islamic faith-based school and parent engagement in rural settings.

“Frontline teachers know their students and classes,” says Ellen Whiteman, Manager of the McDowell Foundation. “They’re in an ideal position to identify and examine areas for improvement.”

The 2018-19 projects approved for funding are:

Culture-Based School Mathematics for Reconciliation and Professional Development (North East School Division)

Gathering Strength: Indigenous Mental Health and High School (La Ronge)

Using Teacher Collaboration in an Islamic Faith-Based School to Nurture Student and Staff Sense of Belonging (Regina)

Whiteman says the McDowell Foundation is honoured to be able to support the curiosity of Saskatchewan teachers. These innovations are possible because of the generosity of McDowell Foundation donors.

For the past 26 years, the McDowell Foundation has been funding teacher-led research in Saskatchewan schools. To date, the McDowell Foundation has granted more than $1.75 million to support education research that directly impacts student learning.

For more information, please visit the McDowell Foundation website at www.mcdowellfoundation.ca. If you would like to speak with one of the researchers, please contact the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation Communications Unit for assistance.